This year marks Motley Crue's 30th anniversary, but the hair-metal giants' Friday-night stop at the Target Center proved they still have a few tricks left.

At least one, anyway. The foursome began its performance without a whiff of warning, dropping a massive curtain and blowing off pyrotechnics while most of the 12,000 fans in attendance were chatting with their friends or navigating the beer and bathroom lines. Alas, it was one of the few true surprises in an evening that saw all involved, including openers Poison and the New York Dolls, playing to their strengths.

In the case of Motley, that meant offering a high-octane set list - chosen largely by fans online - boosted by endless amounts of fire, swearing and rock-and-roll debauchery.

As has mostly been the case with most Motley shows since the group's classic lineup reunited in 2004, lead singer Vince Neil proved himself the weakest link of the bunch. Now 50, Neil's infamously feeble voice has only gotten that much more nasal and pinched. After hearing him murder band classics like "Shout at the Devil" and "Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)," it's much easier to forgive him for all those choruses and hooks he lets the audience sing for him.

The rest of Motley, though, seems to be doing just fine. Drummer Tommy Lee brought back a modified version of his ridiculously high-flying, rotating drum kit, which made his inevitable solo a goofy, Valleyfair-esque highlight. Guitarist Mick Mars, meanwhile, looked better than he has in years.

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Chronic arthritis and a then-new hip replacement gave him the appearance of a propped-up corpse during Motley initial reunion gigs. It's terrific to see the guy actually moving, seemingly without crippling pain.

Coincidentally celebrating their own anniversary, albeit just their 25th, Poison turned in a tight, hourlong set packed with hits, from the dumb ("Ride the Wind") to the dumber ("Unskinny Bop"). Lead singer Bret Michaels nearly died last year after a series of freak health scares but has seemingly bounced back. He led the band with the vigor of a motivational speaker and plenty of "I'm just glad to be alive" patter.

While the New York Dolls obviously influenced both the main acts - Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille in particular - the cult group's presence on the bill seemed odd. Luckily, they took the wise route and played it loud and fast for the mostly disinterested audience. (Kudos to the headliners for allowing the Dolls to crank it up so high.) They indulged in a few tracks from their trio of recent albums ("Cause I Sez So," "Kids Like You") and filled in the blanks with classics like "Trash," "Pills" and "Personality Crisis." Only two of the band's original members are still alive - vocalist David Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain - but the 2011 version of the Dolls might be the best lineup in some time, thanks to the smart addition of onetime David Bowie sideman Earl Slick on guitar.